Sulky with removable foot plate

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of a sulky includes a removable, adjustable foot platform, replaceable axles, and a hitch including stops that limit the extent of pitch, roll, and yaw motions between the sulky and the towing vehicle. The foot platform preferably projects downwardly from the frame on which the axles are mounted. The foot platform is mounted on a frame, and the frame preferably is structurally stronger than the foot platform.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A sulky, comprising: 
       a frame comprising at least one formed, structural member extending in a substantially horizontal direction at a first height;  
       a foot platform removably mounted on said frame and projecting downwardly from said frame at least one inch;  
       first and second horizontal axles mounted on and projecting from said frame at said first height;  
       wheels mounted on said axles; and  
       a hitch mounted to said frame for hitching said frame to a towing vehicle, said hitch including at least one left-to-right horizontal shaft to provide for pitch motion and at least one vertical shaft to provide for yaw motion between said sulky and the towing vehicle.  
     
     
       2. A sulky as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said foot platform has less structural strength than said frame, so that said foot platform may be deformed without deforming said frame. 
     
     
       3. A sulky as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said foot platform is bolted to said frame. 
     
     
       4. A sulky as recited in  claim 3 , wherein one of said foot platform and said frame defines upper and lower sets of holes, permitting the height of the foot platform relative to the frame to be adjusted. 
     
     
       5. A sulky as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said formed structural member includes a substantially horizontally-extending U-shaped portion defining left, right, and front sides, and said U-shaped portion surrounds said foot platform. 
     
     
       6. A sulky as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said foot platform is fastened at least to said left and right sides of said U-shaped portion. 
     
     
       7. A sulky as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said foot platform is also fastened to said front side of said U-shaped portion. 
     
     
       8. A sulky as recited in  claim 6 , wherein one of said foot platform and said frame member defines upper and lower sets of holes, and the other of said foot platform and said frame member defines at least one aligned set of holes; and further comprising a plurality of bolts securing said foot platform to said left and right sides of said U-shaped portion through one of said upper and lower sets of holes and through said aligned set of holes, wherein the height of said foot platform relative to said frame can be adjusted by selecting one of the upper and lower sets of holes. 
     
     
       9. A sulky, comprising: 
       a frame comprising at least one formed, structural member;  
       a foot platform removably mounted on said frame and projecting downwardly from said frame at least one inch;  
       first and second horizontal axles mounted on said frame; and wheels mounted on said axles;  
       wherein said first and second axles each define a flange, and said flanges are bolted to said frame.  
     
     
       10. A sulky, comprising: 
       a frame;  
       a hitch arrangement mounted to said frame for hitching said frame to a towing vehicle, including a spring-biased mounting arm;  
       a foot platform releasably mounted on and projecting downwardly from said frame;  
       left and right axles bolted to said frame and projecting outwardly from said frame; and  
       wheels mounted on said axles.  
     
     
       11. A sulky, comprising: 
       a frame;  
       a hitch arrangement mounted to said frame;  
       a foot platform releasably mounted on and projecting downwardly from said frame;  
       left and right axles bolted to said frame and projecting outwardly from said frame; and  
       wheels mounted on said axles;  
       wherein said hitch arrangement includes at least one left-to-right horizontal shaft, at least one forward-to-rear horizontal shaft, and at least one vertical shaft in order to provide for pitch, roll, and yaw motions between the sulky and the towing vehicle.  
     
     
       12. A sulky as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said hitch arrangement also includes at least one stop which limits the extent of at least one of the pitch, roll, and yaw motions. 
     
     
       13. A sulky as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said hitch arrangement includes stops which limit the extent of the pitch, roll, and yaw motions. 
     
     
       14. A sulky as recited in  claim 11 , and further comprising a spring mounted on said left-to-right horizontal shaft to bias the hitch arrangement upwardly. 
     
     
       15. A sulky, comprising: 
       a rigid, substantially U-shaped frame;  
       a less rigid foot platform bolted onto and projecting downwardly from said frame;  
       first and second axles bolted to said frame;  
       first and second wheels mounted on said first and second axles, respectively;  
       a hitch mounted on the front portion of said sulky, including three axes of rotation, a pitch axis, a roll axis, and a yaw axis; and  
       stops which limit the amount of pitch, roll, and yaw of said hitch.  
     
     
       16. A sulky as recited in  claim 15 , and further comprising a spring biasing said hitch upwardly. 
     
     
       17. A sulky, comprising: 
       a frame comprising at least one substantially horizontal U-shaped portion having left, right, and front sides;  
       a foot platform removably secured to the frame, with the foot platform surrounded by said U-shaped frame portion and extending downwardly from said U-shaped frame portion;  
       first and second axles mounted on said frame; and  
       wheels mounted on said axles, wherein said foot platform extends downwardly below said axles; and  
       a hitch projecting from the front side of said U-shaped frame member for hitching said sulky to a towing vehicle;  
       wherein said hitch includes at least one left-to-right horizontal shaft to permit pitch motion and one vertical shaft to permit yaw motion between the sulky and the towing vehicle.